TWO-YEAR AUTO LICENSE RENEWALS CONVENIENT

Anyone who has ever waited in a long line to renew automobile license plates should appreciate the new option that allows vehicle owners to license their vehicles every other year instead of annually.

The two-year license plate purchase seems to be popular with motorists. Missouri Department of Revenue officials had expected no more than 25 percent of those who renewed licenses the first year the two-year option was available would take advantage of the option, but it turns out about 30 percent had done so between July, when the option became available, and the end of March.

Here's how it works:

Owners of vehicles made in even-numbered years may renew their license plates for two years in even-numbered years, and vehicles of odd-numbered model years may be licensed for two years in odd-numbered years. To accommodate two-year licensing, vehicle inspections now are good for two years instead of one. Even-model-year vehicles must be inspected in even-numbered years, and odd-model-year vehicles in odd-numbered years.

Vehicle owners can still choose to renew license plates every year, and many will continue to do so considering the cost of the two-year renewal is double the annual cost. But that seems to be the only real advantage for annual renewals.

Few people do it, but license plates can be renewed by mail for either one or two years. For the person who doesn't want to go to the license bureau at all, that's even a better option than the every-other-year renewal in person. Simply follow the instructions that are sent with all renewal notices.

The revenue department also is working to offer registrations over the Internet as another convenience to motorists.

The two-year renewal will prove to be a real convenience to motorists who dread the annual trip to the license bureau, particularly those among us -- and there are many -- who seem to always wait until the end of the month their plates expire to renew them.